Trofeo Nikolajewka at Monte Avaro

Sport and remembrance on the snow

The Trofeo Nikolajewka is a winter sports event held at Piani dell'Avaro, the snowy plateau above Cusio, a municipality in the upper Val Brembana in the province of Bergamo. Organized by the A.N.A. Section of Bergamo (National Alpine Association), the trophy is much more than just a race: it is a moment of historical remembrance.

Origins: the Battle of Nikolajewka

The event, established in 1969, is dedicated to the memory of the Battle of Nikolajewka in January 1943, the clash in which the Alpine Army Corps, during the retreat from Russia, managed to break the Soviet encirclement at the cost of very heavy losses. The trophy keeps alive the memory of that sacrifice, a symbol of the identity and values of the Alpine corps.

Disciplines

The program includes two complementary activities: a cross-country ski race for pairs, also valid as a sectional championship, and a non-competitive snowshoe hike with snowshoes, open to all mountain enthusiasts. The format allows for combining the competitive aspect with popular participation.

A valley event

The edition involves the Alpine Groups of Cusio, Averara, and Santa Brigida, the three municipalities of the Valle Averara that frame the event. In addition to the race day at Piani dell'Avaro, the calendar includes commemorative moments and celebrations spread over the preceding weeks, testifying to the trophy's strong roots in the Brembana territory.